DESTITUTE PERSONS ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9404, 10 January 1894, Page 6

DESTITUTE PERSONS ACT.

At the Polica Court yesterday morning, before Mr. H. W. Northcroft, R.M., a man namod John Stow was charged with a breach of the above Act by having wilfully failed to provide for the support of his six children. Margaret Stow deposed that during the past thirteen weeks all that she received from her husband was 8s 6d. He was a labourer, and was possessed of good health, and nearly always in work. Unfortunately he was strongly addicted to drink, and as fast as he earned any money he spent) it. The defendant said it was quite true that ho had only contributed 8s 6d during the last three months, but the reason was that he had not been in work. As for spending his money in drink, he did nothing of the kind, and had, in fact,: sworn off altogether. About three months ago bis father-in law had taken his house, and told him to go away for good, and not come near them. The wife said if it had Dot been for the kindness of her father, she would not have been able to have kept the children. His Worship said he thought that drink was at the bottom of all their trouble. He urged upon the defendant the necessity of keeping the resolution that he had made. It required very little, as the defendanb was no doubt well aware, to make some men break the pledge, and Very often the kindly invitation of a friend to go into a hotel and have a glass of ginger ale would cause a man to give way. He therefore hoped that the defendant would steer clear of everything of the sorb, and be bad no doubt that in a short time the children would learn to respect their father, and his wife would receive- him back into her home again, and he would 1 ultimately bless the daythab he came before the Court, Hit Worship made an order for £1 per week, the first payment to be made on the 15th '.instant. -• _^___________ -.